By Li Deyan, Vision Times
A 23-year-old woman living in Australia — known publicly as Yang LanLan — has once again ignited a storm of speculation across Chinese and overseas media. Her absence from another court hearing, the abrupt clearing of her luxury residence, and increasingly tangled claims about her biological mother have all intensified questions surrounding her identity and wealth.
Meanwhile, rumors continue to swirl about whether Chinese actor Yu Menglong’s death is tied to alleged money transfers by the Xi family to Australia.
Yu died after mysteriously falling from a high-rise building in Beijing on Sept. 11. Though authorities were quick to rule the death “accidental,” a growing number of industry peers, fans, and human rights’ advocates have called for an independent investigation, citing the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death and the government’s swift suppression of anyone speaking out about about the case.
RELATED: Civilian Sleuths Challenge Police Timeline in Yu Menglong Case: ‘Facts Don’t Add Up’
Yang misses court again
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On Nov. 14, 2025, Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court held a fourth procedural hearing in Yang’s high-profile collision case. Once again, she did not appear to face the charges. Her representation was handled instead by attorney Michael Korn — the son of her previous lawyer, John Korn. The hearing lasted less than five minutes, with Korn entering a plea of not guilty on all charges, while requesting a “Brief of Evidence” from Australian prosecutors.
According to case procedure, defense counsel will receive the police evidence summary on Dec. 12. This will generally include written witness statements, police reports, and materials the prosecution intends to submit at trial. Korn told reporters he would “closely examine” the evidence once received by his office. The court scheduled the next hearing for Jan. 30, 2026.
RELATED: Sydney Court Delays LanLan Yang Drunk-Driving Case, Sets Plea Deadline for Nov. 14
Outside the courthouse, Korn confirmed that Yang had been excused from attending in person. When asked whether she was receiving special treatment, he responded with, “No, this is completely normal. I’ve already requested the brief of evidence, and we’ll handle things based on what it shows.”
Legal experts in Sydney noted that Yang’s insistence on pleading not guilty was considered surprising, but may signal a deliberate defense strategy.
Yang faces multiple serious charges stemming from a July 26 collision in Rose Bay, where she allegedly drove a Tiffany-blue Rolls-Royce Cullinan while intoxicated and against traffic, severely injuring George Plassaras, the driver for broadcaster Kyle Sandilands. His injuries included a ruptured spleen, spinal fractures, and pelvic fractures. Under New South Wales law, dangerous driving causing serious injury can carry a sentence of up to seven years or more.
Yet since her Oct. 17 court appearance, Yang has effectively disappeared: her Watsons Bay mansion has been emptied, and two Rolls-Royces once parked inside have vanished. Some online users now question whether she remains in Australia. Under her bail terms, she must report weekly to police and surrender her passport.
Three possible mothers, plus a billionaire’s daughter?
Yang’s identity remains one of the biggest mysteries in the case. An Oct. 4 Daily Mail report detailed her extravagant lifestyle: exclusive dining at Yoshii’s Omakase — where reservations often take two years and cost at least AUD 380 — and frequent luxury shopping sprees in Chanel and Louis Vuitton.
One acquaintance described her spending as: “She eats refined cuisine every day, and often goes on wild shopping sprees at Chanel or Louis Vuitton — sometimes even booking out an entire store.”
But the source of her immense wealth remains unresolved. Multiple rumors claim she was born in Hangzhou in 2002 under the name Xi Minglan (习明兰), fueling speculation that she may be linked to China’s top family.
Version 1: Actress Jiang Yao (江瑶)
Some reports claim Yang’s biological mother is Zhejiang Xiaobaihua Yue Opera actress Jiang Yao, and that her delivering physician was Huang Hefeng, former head of the Zhejiang University Children’s Hospital.
Jiang Yao, born in 1963, abruptly disappeared from public life after 1999, during what should have been her career peak. Commentators note the possibility she relocated to Australia around 2002, the year of Yang’s alleged birth. These claims remain unverified.
Version 2: Writer Tie Ning (铁凝)
Another rumor points to prominent Chinese writer Tie Ning, who for years rose unusually quickly through China’s cultural hierarchy. Whispers of a past relationship with Xi Jinping have circulated but cannot be confirmed. Tie Ning stepped down from her post during the March 2025 Two Sessions — a moment when Xi was widely rumored to be losing real authority.
Version 3: Zhang LanLan (张澜澜), Wife of Xi Yuanping (习远平)
A more recent rumor suggests Yang is actually the daughter of Xi Jinping’s younger brother, Xi Yuanping, and his second wife Zhang LanLan — once dubbed “the most beautiful woman in the military.” However, observers note that Yang does not strongly resemble Zhang.
Intriguingly, some netizens even used AI (ChatGPT) to compare Yang’s facial features with Xi Jinping’s mother, Qi Xin. The result reportedly showed a 65%–70% similarity, further intensifying speculation that Yang may be a Xi family child, even if her exact parentage remains unclear.
Could Yu Menglong’s death be connected to the Xi family?
Commentator Lao Deng previously released what he claimed to be a letter written by Yu Menglong shortly before his death. The alleged message contained three chilling lines, translated below:
“The old man who calls himself a ‘prince’ has eyes like a wolf, full of greed… And that little princess far away in Australia — her world and mine are so distant, yet so closely entangled. That family recently ran into trouble, and someone approached me to investigate their money laundering to Australia… He said publicly that he would make sure I was silenced completely.”
RELATED: Yu Menglong Case Deepens: Missing Phone, Corporate Shake-Up, Powerful Cover-Ups
On Nov. 18, commentator Li Muyang revealed messages allegedly from Yu during his final days. Yu described powerful figures as:
“Their power is too great — they control more than half of the entertainment industry. Two of them call themselves ‘princes,’ and they used my studio to move social-security funds — billions each time — then transferred hundreds of billions to Australia. Australian police came to investigate. They questioned everyone separately — including me. I didn’t say anything. But they all believe I talked…”
While none of these claims can be independently verified, two details stand out:
- Yu claimed that hundreds of billions of yuan were transferred to Australia.
- Australian law enforcement did reportedly travel to China for discreet questioning — a rare move.
Shifting political winds
When combined with rumors about Yang’s wealth and possible ties to the Xi family, the narrative becomes more complex; not to mention politically explosive.
Yang LanLan’s repeated absence from court could be procedural — or it could reflect deeper political dynamics now unfolding in Beijing. As Xi Jinping’s faction weakens and internal CCP power struggles intensify, cases linked to elite families may face new scrutiny.
For now, Yang’s fate remains uncertain. But in the wake of Yu Menglong’s killing — and the cascading revelations about corruption, privilege, and offshore wealth — it is almost certain that her story is far from over. In fact, analysts say these snippets are only the tip of the iceberg.
Editorial note: Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Vision Times.
